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Date

19 Mar 2010

Sections

Transport

Mobility habits need to be drastically and rapidly changed in order to avoid the adverse effects of uncontrolled urban and mobility growth. The International Association of Public Transport (UITP) calls on governments, cities and local authorities, investors, operators and the industry for a strong commitment to doubling the public transport market share worldwide by 2025.

“In the future, an ever-more densely populated planet will find its mobility solutions only in public transport”, said Hans Rat, UITP Secretary General, at a press conference held at the UITP Main Office in Brussels today.

“Public transport provides safe, sustainable and cost-effective mobility. Today, citizens and cities would be worse off without public transport”, stated Alain Flausch, UITP President and CEO, Société des Transports Intercommunaux Bruxellois (STIB/MIVB). “Doubling our market shares by 2025, which has become known by its abbreviation PTx2, may be more difficult to achieve for some than for others. But, it can never be an excuse not to try.”

The major problems facing cities can be solved thanks to efficient public transport, as:

-Public transport empowers the economy;

-Public transport helps the planet breathe;

-Public transport alleviates congestion;

-Public transport brings everyone everywhere.

In order to meet the challenge of doubling the public transport market share worldwide by 2025, all mobility actors are required to take up their responsibilities.

Five key axes are to be put in place to achieve this aim:

-Deliver lifestyle services so that public transport becomes the mode of choice for citizens;

-Develop visionary integrated urban policies;

-Create a new business culture;

-Secure stable funding and investment schemes;

-Do not hesitate to use stick-and-carrot tactics.

Notes to Editors

UITP (International Association of Public Transport) is the international network for public transport authorities and operators, policy decision-makers, scientific institutes and the public transport supply and service industry. It is a platform for worldwide cooperation, business development and the sharing of know-how between its 3,200 members from 90 countries.